Reported Aston Villa and Sheffield United target Ante Budimir won’t feature in Real Mallorca’s XI again after manager Luis Garcia Plaza took a hardline stance on the wantaway striker, according to SportsFinding.
Perhaps the journeyman 29-year-old is keen to strike while the proverbial iron is hot and seal a move to the Premier League before the opportunity passes him by.
Or maybe a man who played for six clubs in the past seven years is suffering from a nasty case of itchy feet once again.
Either way, all signs suggest Budimir won’t be sticking around to help Mallorca seal an immediate return to La Liga after suffering relegation last term.
“You will not see Budimir in the squad, he will not be picked,” Mallorca boss Plaza says, with the former St Pauli and Sampdoria man left at home for Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Espanyol.
Budimir did his level best to save Mallorca’s skin in 2019/20, scoring 13 goals in his debut La Liga season – a remarkable tally in a relegated side.
Marca claims two goal-shy Premier League clubs, Aston Villa and Sheffield United, have expressed an interest in Budimir, although it remains to be seen if they will pay the £14 million fee required to sign a forward who turns 30 next year.
At 6ft 3in and with a brilliant leap and deceptively subtle first touch, Budimir could be the striker Chris Wilder is crying out for at Bramall Lane.
The Sheffield United boss has confirmed interest in the likes of Rhian Brewster and Leon Balogun but it seems they are no closer to landing a much-needed number nine.
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